Paratus is a small, family-owned vineyard perched high above Napa Valley in the prestigious Mount Veeder appellation. The owners Robert "Rob" & Christina Jennings produce a single, limited quantity, ultra-premium wine each from own estate grown grapes, always mindful in their own stewardship of the land by using such low-impact methods as dry farming and hand tending. In Rob’s opinion, what makes Paratus a standout wine are its vineyards, carved into a steep hillside 1,400 feet above sea level and surrounded by redwood and oak forest. From the start, Rob sensed that the property’s high elevation above the fogline, steep terraces, eastern exposure and thin volcanic soils added up to a terroir perfectly suited for the king of wine grapes, so early on he budded the vines over to Cabernet Sauvignon and in another departure from the contemporary Napa way, decided to dry-farm the grapes. Without irrigation there would be less fruit, but the berries would be more intensely flavored. Jennings, together with fraternal winemakers Massimo and Mario Monticelli, are producing 150 cases available only in California, New York, and now in Illinois.

website: www.paratuswine.com